George Valente

Born May 28, 1925, in Worcester, Mass, he married Pasqualena Carelli on Feb. 14, 1948, in Worcester. Together, he and Lee moved to Fresno in 1948, where his daughter Lynn was born.

George opened a service station in Fresno which he ran until 1955. In 1955 he moved the family to Lafayette, where he first became involved in the automobile business. He started as a salesman at Rhett-White Ford in Lafayette where he met his future business partner, a fellow salesman at the dealership, Gene Pleau. The future was to see George and Gene buying Downtown Ford in Sacramento.

George went on to own several more dealerships on his own in Novato, Concord, Fairfield, South San Francisco and San Diego. Throughout his business career he gained a reputation as a firm but fair manager-owner. As time passed and his endeavors gained success, he had more time for his other passions: golf, his family and philanthropy for causes that he cared for.

George funded a chair at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, gave generously to the Davis Senior Center and contributed annually to the Sacramento SPCA, Yolo Hospice, the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, and a trauma center at the University of New Mexico operated by his good friend Dr. Steven Weiss. His generosity will be especially remembered at the UCD School of Medicine by Dr. Reginald Low and Dr. Lorenzo Rossaro, two men who understood and deeply appreciated the special talent and drive of this remarkable individual.

He will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years. He is survived by their only child Lynn; two grandchildren, Jared and Drake; and two great-grandchildren, Kylie Lena and Taryn Rae Monez. He also is survived by nieces and nephews in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

A memorial remembrance of his life runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at the El Macero Country Club. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donation be made to Yolo Hospice in Davis.

Those who wish to sign a guestbook online may do so at www.wiscombefuneral.com